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Sonesta Journey Go lodge loyalty program: Professionals and cons

Till 2020, I had by no means heard of Sonesta or its Journey Go loyalty program. Granted, firstly of 2020, Sonesta had solely 58 properties. However now that the Crimson Lion household of inns has joined Sonesta, the loyalty program has quickly grown to over 1,100 properties in eight international locations.

In case your journey is primarily targeted within the international locations served by Sonesta — the U.S., Canada, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Peru and Sint Maarten — you would possibly wonder if it is best to care about Sonesta and its Journey Go program.

I’ve principally ignored the Sonesta Journey Go program thus far. Nonetheless, the 2023 overhaul of Sonesta Journey Go and the newer addition of Crimson Lion inns inspired me to take one other have a look at this system. This is what I discovered.

Sonesta elite standing is straightforward to earn

Sonesta Journey Go has 4 elite standing member tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The necessities to succeed in every member tier are as follows:

  • Bronze: None
  • Silver: 10 nights or 10,000 factors per calendar 12 months
  • Gold: 20 nights or 20,000 factors per calendar 12 months
  • Platinum: 40 nights or 40,000 factors per calendar 12 months

Nonetheless, you needn’t keep 20 nights or earn 20,000 factors for Gold standing. In spite of everything, major cardholders of the Sonesta Credit score Card from Financial institution of America get computerized Gold standing for so long as their card is open.

The data for the Sonesta Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Sonesta additionally provides elite members in different lodge loyalty packages the chance to match their standing. To request a standing match, enroll in Sonesta Journey Go and make contact with Journey Go buyer care along with your Journey Go Member ID and a replica of a present membership card or assertion displaying your standing in one other lodge loyalty program.

Associated: Evaluating the most effective lodge elite standing tiers and earn them

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Sonesta Journey Go makes use of set award evening pricing

Sonesta Journey Go has set award evening pricing for every of its properties. Whereas this system beforehand printed an award chart and which inns have been in every award chart tier, now you’ll be able to solely discover the award evening price whenever you seek for a keep and click on on the property to see the room varieties.

SONESTA.COM

The shortage of a broadcast award chart and the truth that you could seek for a keep to be taught the award price are big downsides. And not using a printed award chart, Sonesta can change award evening pricing at any property every time it needs with out the adverse press typically related to switching to dynamic award pricing (like Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards and Hilton Honors) or doing annual class adjustments (like World of Hyatt).

Associated: Maximize your lodge factors by getting a fourth or fifth evening free on award stays

SONESTA MAHO BEACH RESORT, CASINO & SPA/FACEBOOK

40,000 Sonesta factors for an all-inclusive resort

Sonesta has two all-inclusive resorts situated aspect by aspect in St. Maarten. Nonetheless, I might solely see award charges for one in all these resorts, the Sonesta Maho Seaside Resort, On line casino & Spa, on-line. Every award evening at this resort prices 40,000 factors per evening.

SONESTA.COM

This beachfront resort is an AvGeek favourite because it’s situated minutes from Princess Juliana Worldwide Airport (SXM) and overlooks Maho Bay in Sint Maarten. The 420-room resort has an oasis pool with a swim-up bar, a children membership, an aqua park and a teenagers zone.

The opposite resort, the adults-only Sonesta Ocean Level Resort, was beforehand bookable for 50,000 factors per evening. Nonetheless, Ocean Level Resort now not seems in search outcomes on the Sonesta web site.

Associated: 26 finest all-inclusive resorts on this planet, in response to frequent vacationers

Sonesta advantages and facilities are poorly outlined

Whereas writing this text, I grew to become more and more pissed off by the lack of understanding and poorly outlined advantages as I appeared by way of Sonesta’s web site.

In response to the chart of member advantages, Silver, Gold and Platinum members get a welcome present, early check-in and late checkout. Nonetheless, regardless of looking out the phrases and situations and your complete Sonesta web site, I might discover no additional point out of a welcome present, early check-in or late checkout advantages primarily based on member tier. Since these advantages aren’t effectively outlined and could also be left as much as the whims of every property, they do not maintain a lot worth in my eyes.

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. SONESTA

Day by day complimentary continental breakfast is a profit supplied to Gold and Platinum members, but it surely’s solely supplied at some inns, and the inns that do not provide this member perk aren’t outlined. Likewise, all of the Sonesta Journey Go phrases and situations should say in regards to the breakfast profit is the next:

“The complimentary continental breakfast profit entitles the member to obtain a voucher or credit score for complimentary continental breakfast at taking part Sonesta shops. Complimentary breakfast profit could fluctuate by model.”

This assertion from the phrases and situations leaves me with many questions. For instance, what number of vouchers or how a lot credit score do members obtain? Is the voucher or credit score just for the member, or is a voucher or credit score additionally offered per visitor staying with the member?

Lastly, complimentary breakfast is normally supplied to all friends at Sonesta ES Suites. However, since some properties do not provide breakfast, the model web page for Sonesta ES Suites states there is not a “assure of free breakfast at each Sonesta ES Suites,” and friends are instructed to “examine with respective lodge for particulars.” As a visitor, I might a lot slightly know all Sonesta ES Suites properties provide complimentary breakfast as an alternative of getting to examine with every property.

Associated: How and why it is best to maximize your lodge stays by utilizing a number of loyalty packages

Backside line

The Sonesta Journey Go lodge loyalty program has some engaging components, together with easy-to-obtain lodge elite standing and an all-inclusive resort bookable for 40,000 factors per evening. Nonetheless, poorly outlined advantages and the dearth of an award chart dissuade me from turning into too fascinated about this system.

Though I do not at the moment have plans to stick with Sonesta, I am going to make the most of a standing match when and if I ebook a keep at a Sonesta property. At that time, I will be to see how the on-site expertise is with Platinum standing, together with how a lot of a breakfast voucher or credit score I obtain.

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